Integrated still image, motion video and speed measurement system

ABSTRACT

Devices capable of capturing still and motion imagery are integrated with an accurate distance and speed measuring apparatus. By measuring the changing distance of the target over that time, a target&#39;s speed can be determined. At substantially the same time as the target&#39;s speed is determined, imagery of the target is captured in both a still and moving format. Using a queuing mechanism for both distance and imagery data along with time stamps associated with each, a target&#39;s image, both in motion and still, can be integrated with its speed. In situations in which a still image is unavailable, a target&#39;s speed can be associated with a portion of a continuous stream of motion imagery to a point where a positive identification can be captured with a still image.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application relates to and claims the benefit of priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/236,288 filed Sep. 23, 2008 and U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/974,694 filed Sep. 24, 2007, whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposesas if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to systems andmethods for measuring the speed of an object and more particularly tointegrating still image and motion picture data of an object with thesimultaneous determination of the speed of that object.

2. Relevant Background

The measurement of an object's speed relative to a stationary point canbe accomplished by a variety of devices. It is well known that lawenforcement and similar agencies use RADAR and laser measuring equipmentto aid in the enforcement of traffic laws. Laser ranging equipment andspeed determination is at the forefront of this technology. Laserrangefinders, through a series of pulsed laser bursts, can determine thespeed of a vehicle at a range previously unobtainable using RADARtechnology. Lasers are extremely accurate and thus, when properly aimed,can be used at ranges far exceeding those of a RADAR system.

As technology evolves, laser based speed detection devices continue toexpand the range at which such a device may be employed. Thus, given anaccurate aiming system, it is possible for a laser detection device toaccurately ascertain the speed of a vehicle at a substantial distance.

To enforce a ticket based on a speed measurement, evidence mustgenerally be presented to accurately identify the vehicle at the precisetime the measurement, i.e. violation, occurred and to link the identityof the operator to that instant in time. A vehicle, after all, does notreceive a ticket, the operator does. One means to link a speedmeasurement of a vehicle to the operator is with the use of still andmotion imagery.

Synchronizing the exact image with the instance of speed detection,however, is problematic. Simply coupling a still image camera or amotion picture camera to a speed detection device involves considerableprocessing time. The communication delay among the initiating command totake a speed measurement, determining whether a violation has occurredand capturing either or both a still or motion image at the precise timethat violation occurred may render the violation moot. Furthermore, thecomponents comprising such a system are often cost prohibitive.

To accurately and legibly capture the image of a license plate of avehicle at the employable range of a laser based speed detection devicewould require a lens/camera system that is extremely expensive. Yet touse a more common and cost effective lens would defeat the use of thelaser rangefinder. For example, assume a vehicle's speed could reliablybe measured as violating a law at a distance of 2 miles, yet at thisrange a legible picture of the license plate and the operator cannot beeconomically produced. By the time that the vehicle is within range of acamera that can produce an image in which the vehicle and the operatorcan be discerned unquestionably, the vehicle is likely to have slowedand is no longer violating the law. Thus the enforcement agency is facedwith a difficult task of linking data indicative of a violation to anoperator and/or vehicle that otherwise appears to be obeying the law.These and other challenges are addressed by the invention describedhereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for integrating still and motion imagery with speedmeasurement are hereafter disclosed. According to one embodiment of thepresent invention, a still image capture device, a motion imagery deviceand a speed detection device are integrated into a single system. In oneembodiment of the present invention, a laser rangefinder is used toaccurately determine the range of a target over a specified period oftime. By measuring the changing distance of the target over that time,as well as the changing roll, pitch and orientation of the laser overthat time, the target's speed can be determined. At substantially thesame time as the target's speed is determined, imagery of the target iscaptured in both a still and moving format.

In another aspect of the present invention, the system has the abilityto queue both imagery information and the mechanisms for speedmeasurement. The time delay between when a speed measurement isinitiated to when the speed of a vehicle is determined and/or an imagecaptured is finite but variable in each instance. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, imagery and distance measurementdata are acquired on a real time basis, placed in a queuing mechanismand identified within the queue by a specific time stamp. Upon receivinga trigger indication, the time stamp associated with that triggerinitiation is synchronized with those of the imagery and the distancemeasurement data. The result is a presentation of speed and image data,both still and motion, that occur at precisely the same time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, when the range tothe target upon determining the target's speed is such that the imagewould be legible and would likely withstand the rigors of a legalproceedings, the image is integrated with the target's determined speedas previously described. When the target's speed is ascertained at arange in which the imagery is likely illegible or is of a quality thatwould render positive identification of the vehicle in question, motionimagery is established to track the vehicle from the point at which thespeed is determined to one in which a clear and legible still image ofthe vehicle and/or the operator can be obtained. Continual updates areconducted until a still image is captured.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, processingtime for determining the speed of the target is reduced by using asliding sampling window. A laser rangefinder determines a target's speedby sending out a series of laser pulses and measuring the time until thepulses return. By sampling a series of pulses over a period of time, thechange in distance of the target over that period of time can bedetermined and thus so can the speed of the target. One consideration inconducting such a determination is the quality of the returned pulses.To accurately determine the distance to the target and thus the speed ofthe target based on those changing distances, the returned pulses fromthe laser must conform to various parameters and conditions over asampling window. Rather than moving the window from one sampling periodto another adjacent window as is know in the prior art, the presentinvention uses, according to one embodiment, a sliding window. As thewindow moves, the returned pulses are evaluated and, when they meet therequired parameters and conditions, an accurate distance/speed can bedetermined. By using a sliding window, the latency of speeddetermination can be reduced significantly thus minimizing processingtime.

According to another aspect of the invention, the present inventiondisclosed herein advantageously provides a single, unitary, hand heldsystem operative to acquire still and motion imagery of a moving objectalong with its speed, utilizing a common processor for both the imagesensor and laser subsystem. Power for the unit is provided by a batterypack located within the hand held unit housing and no additionalexternal power sources are required. Through the tight integration ofall of the image, speed determination, display and other systemfunctions, a portable, light weight, compact and low cost unit isprovided that affords greater precision and functionality whilerequiring less power than existing traffic enforcement systems.

The features and advantages described in this disclosure and in thefollowing detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additionalfeatures and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims hereof.Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specificationhas been principally selected for readability and instructional purposesand may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe theinventive subject matter; reference to the claims is necessary todetermine such inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of the presentinvention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent,and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to thefollowing description of one or more embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram for an integrated image and speedmeasurement system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of one data flow embodimentaccording to the integrated image and speed measurement system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a graphical depiction of a sliding scale sampling techniquefor speed measurement according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one method embodiment for integrating speedmeasurements with image data according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5A is a right rear perspective view of an integrated image andspeed measurement apparatus encompassing one system embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5B is a right front perspective view of an integrated image andspeed measurement apparatus encompassing one system embodiment of thepresent invention.

The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention tightly integrate speed detectionand determination based on a laser rangefinder with simultaneouscapturing of still and motion imagery. By integrating thefunctionalities of the image capture process, speed detection and otherfunctions into a single hardware platform, communication delay andbandwidth constraints of the prior art can be minimized. Simultaneousstill and motion imagery can be gained at the precise time that a speedviolation has occurred. These determinations and imagery can becorrelated with position identification means such as Global PositioningSystem (“GPS”) data and other factors to provide an enforceable chain ofevidence regarding a particular violation.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described indetail with reference to the accompanying Figures. Like elements in thevarious Figures are identified by like reference numerals forconsistency. Although the invention has been described and illustratedwith a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that thepresent disclosure has been made only by way of example and thatnumerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can beresorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram depiction of a system forintegrating imagery with distance measuring equipment according to thepresent invention. The system 100 is generally comprised of a distancemeasuring device laser sub-system 110 such as a laser rangefinder, animage sensor 120 and a main processor 130. The distance measuring device110 can, in one embodiment of the present invention, be a laserrangefinder sub-system controlled by a conventional imbedded processorsuch as NXP LPC2136. This laser sub-system can include local memory forintermediate calculations and distance determination and can also belinked to a global positioning system component 112, a compass 114 andan inclinometer 116.

The present invention may be implemented on any conventional centralprocessing unit(s) (CPU) or processor(s) 130 such as a ATMEL AT32AP7000processor or the like. The image sensor 120 is generally a ComplementaryMetal-Oxide-Semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensor with the ability todynamically adjust resolution from a motion image of 480×360 pixels to astill image resolution of 1920×1440 pixels. Other embodiments of theimage sensor 120 can include an external flash light 125 for low lightoperations. While the CMOS image sensor 120 is coupled to the processorvia a peripheral bus, the distance measuring device laser sub-system 110is coupled to the processor 130 via a serial link. The system 100 alsoincludes random access memory 135 (“RAM”) in the form of synchronousdynamic RAM and/or NOR Flash coupled to the processor via a memory bus.

Further coupled to the processor are ancillary ports such as an SD cardslot interface 140 for external memory, a USB port 142, an Ethernet orwireless Ethernet port 144, serial links 146 and various I/O interfaces148 which in a preferred embodiment are buttons. These I/O interfaces148 are further coupled to a power supply 150 sub-system that regulatespower supplied by a main battery pack 155. A backup battery pack 160 iscoupled to the laser sub-system to provide power to the real-time clockand GPS aid in an improved acquisition time.

Further coupled to the processor via the peripheral is a display device170 such as a color liquid crystal display. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the display device 170 can include a touch screen 175for input/output functionality and backlight light emitting diodes 180for low light operations. Although not shown separately, a real timesystem clock is included with the system 100, in a conventional manner.

The main processor comprises a suitable processor 130 for implementingthe present invention. The processor 130 communicates with othercomponents of the system via a bi-directional system bus (including anynecessary input/output (I/O) controller circuitry and other “glue”logic). The bus, which includes address lines for addressing systemmemory, provides data transfer between and among the various components.RAM 135 serves as the working memory for the processor 130. Read onlymemory present within the processor contains the basic input/outputsystem code (BIOS)—a set of low-level routines in the ROM thatapplication programs and the operating systems can use to interact withthe hardware, including reading characters from the keyboard, outputtingcharacters to printers, and so forth.

Mass storage devices 140 provide persistent storage on fixed and/orremovable media, such as magnetic, optical, or magnetic-optical storagesystems, flash memory, or any other available mass storage technology.The mass storage may be shared on a network, or it may be dedicated massstorage. Typically, the fixed storage device serves as the main harddisk for the system.

In basic operation, program logic (including that which implementsmethodology of the present invention described below) is loaded from theremovable storage or fixed storage into the main (RAM) memory forexecution by the processor 130. During operation of the program logic,the system accepts user input from a keyboard, pointing device or otheruser interface, as well as speech-based input from a voice recognitionsystem (not shown). The keyboard permits selection of applicationprograms, entry of keyboard-based input or data and selection andmanipulation of individual data objects displayed on the screen ordisplay device. Likewise, the pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, pen device, or the like, permits selection and manipulation ofobjects on the display device. In this manner, these input devicessupport manual user input for any process running on the system.

The system 100 displays text and/or graphic images and other data on thedisplay device 170. A video adapter, which is interposed between thedisplay device 170 and the system's bus, drives the display device 170.A hard copy of the displayed information, or other information withinthe system 100, may be obtained from a printer or other output device.

The system 100 itself communicates with other devices (e.g., othercomputers) via a network interface card (NIC) connected to a network(e.g., Ethernet network, Bluetooth wireless network, or the like) via anEthernet link 144. Devices that will be commonly connected locally tothe interface include laptop computers, handheld organizers, digitalcameras, and the like.

The single image sensor system 100 of the present invention capturesboth motion and still imagery, albeit with different resolutions. Whilesome motion imagery devices possess the capability to isolate andcapture still images, the present invention captures still and motionimagery simultaneously. The present invention enables sensory images tobe captured continuously with the ability to dynamically control frameresolution between that of a motion image and that of a still image. Theintegrated system 100 of the present invention further combines distanceand speed determination technology present in a laser rangefinder withstill and motion imagery to demonstrate, in one embodiment of thepresent invention, evidence of motor vehicle traffic violations.

One aspect of the present invention is the system 100's ability to queueimagery information and the mechanisms for speed measurement. There is afinite but varying delay between the time a speed measurement isinitiated to the time that the speed of a vehicle has been determinedand/or an image captured. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, imagery and distance measurement data are acquired on a realtime basis, placed in a queuing mechanism and identified within thequeue by a specific time stamp. Upon receiving an initiation indication,the time stamp associated with that trigger initiation is synchronizedwith those of the imagery and the distance measurement data. The resultis a presentation of speed and image data that occur at precisely thesame time.

FIG. 2 provides a high level block diagram illustrating data flowbetween various components and modules of one embodiment of the presentinvention. Upon initiation of the system 100, the image sensor 220 andthe laser rangefinder 210 begin collecting data with respect to a target205. According to one envisioned use of the present invention, thesystem 100 is aimed at an approaching vehicle that is suspected ofviolating traffic speed ordinances. Upon properly aligning the system tothe target using a sighting scope or other means known to one skilled inthe art, the system is initiated. Upon initiation, the laser rangefinder210 transmits a plurality of laser pulses toward the target. Reflectionsof these pluses are returned to the laser rangefinder 210. Based on thetime elapsed from the transmission of the pulses to the reception of thepulses' reflection, a distance can be determined. This distance data isgiven a time stamp and stored in the data queue 230 for laterprocessing. Assuming the target is moving relative to the laserrangefinder, the distance over a period of time will change. By knowingthe change of distance over a known period of time, the speed of thetarget can be determined. This process of distance and speeddetermination is accomplished by a real time processing module 215 and aspeed determinator module 250.

Simultaneous with the determination of the target's speed, the imagesensor 220 begins to collect imagery data. The imagery data is processedin real time and a time stamp is attached to the data as it is collectedand stored in a data queue 240 before it is further processed by theimage processing module 260 for display to the user.

A controller 270 interposed between the laser rangefinder 210 process ofspeed determination and the image sensor 220 process for capturingimagery acts to correlate the two sets of data. As one skilled in theart will appreciate, the processing of laser pulses and determinationsof a target's speed is not instantaneous. Similarly, image processing isnot without a finite amount of processing time. With respect to speeddetermination, a series of range determination must be determined beforean accurate speed can be found. Depending on the range to the target,environmental conditions and other factors, there may be a finite amountof elapsed time from when the process is initiated to when the systemcan accurately produce the target's speed.

With respect to the image sensor 220, the image capturing device mustalso make adjustments for the range to the target and environmentalconditions. Significantly, the time period from when the system 100 isinitiated to when the speed is determined and/or the images are capturedis not the same, nor are these elapsed times consistent. According toone embodiment of the present invention, a queuing system maintains arecord of the data from both the laser rangefinder 210 and the imagesensor 220. Using time stamp information provided to both aspects of thesystem 100 from the controller 270 upon initiation, the images (frames)of the target can be precisely aligned with the speed determination.

In addition, and as shown in FIG. 2, other inputs can be considered andcorrelated to the speed and image data. Inputs 280 include globalpositioning system coordinates of the system 100 as well as roll, pitch,inclination and orientation of the device as it is being used. Bygaining information such as this, as well as other environmental data,the scene in which the speed and image data were collected can beaccurately reconstructed. For example, the exact location of the system100 can be determined as well as how it was aimed at the vehicle. Thisdata can be used to strengthen the validity of the data collected orused to arrive at an independent determination of speed which can beused as supplementary evidence of a violation.

The ability to integrate GPS and other data into the distancemeasurement and imagery data can also aid in reconstruction of anenvironment for later analysis. By using the precise GPS location of thesystem 100 as well as the roll, pitch and orientation of the viewingangle combined with distance measurements, an accurate depiction of atraffic or similar situation can be recorded for future analysis. In theevent of a traffic accident or other incident in which the pertinentfactors surrounding the incident may be ephemeral, embodiments of thepresent invention enable a user to capture, both in still and in motionimagery, an accurate depiction of the surrounding environment. Thisinformation can be used to craft an accident report or be used, ifnecessary, in court to support findings of fact with respect to theconditions present at an accident site or the results of such anaccident.

Another feature of the invention is to provide still and motion imagerybefore the actual violation occurred. The amount (or size) of the queuecan be adjusted to provide imagery data and distance measurement databefore the initiating event occurred. For example consider a monitoringdevice that captures imagery and distance measurement data on a realtime basis and that a violation is only realized after the act occurs,such as running a red light at an intersection. An officer can bemonitoring an intersection and by the time the trigger is initiated tocapture an image of the vehicle and the speed measurement, the violationis no longer present. The image captured is of a vehicle that is nolonger in the intersection and traveling at a normal rate of speed. Thusevidence of a violation that occurred previous to the initiated captureof the event is missing. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, real time data is stored temporarily for a predeterminedperiod of time in a cache 230, 240. Based upon predetermined settings, aspecific period of imagery and speed determination data can be stored orsent to non-volatile memory 140 once an event has been initiated. In theprevious example, data for the previous several seconds is captured forlater analysis and review based on an initiated event, i.e. a triggerpull. Still and/or motion imagery of the vehicle running the red lightalong with speed information is captured and presented as irrefutableevidence of a violation.

Another aspect of the present invention enables the capture ofcorrelated speed and imagery with additional information such asidentification data. For example, in some jurisdictions vehicles such asmotorbikes are not required to display license plates on the front ofthe vehicle. One embodiment of the present invention enables a user tocapture an integrated speed measurement with a still image at the timeof the violation clearly identifying the vehicle while maintainingmotion imagery until a second still image of the vehicle can be obtainedthat includes the license plate.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the frame ratecontrol of the motion imagery is dynamically altered based on the statusof the object of interest. One key parameter of motion imagery is framerate. A human being normally can not distinguish between true realmotion and a continuous stream of still images displayed at a rate inexcess of approximately 25 frames per second. In the United States mosttelevision systems refresh the screen at a rate of 30 frames or imagesper second while in the European Union the refresh rate is 25 frames persecond. Images depicting significant changes due to the motion of anobject are typically the driving force for the selection of frame rate.An environment that changes minimally on a per second basis can beadequately represented by a slower frame rate while one that isexperiencing significant movement is better captured using a higherframe rate. The present invention dynamically adjusts frame rate via adynamic frame rate control. This control enables frame rate to bereduced or increased based on the system's determination of imagealteration. When the image is changing rapidly, the frame rate isincreased while when little change is realized the frame rate can bereduced.

Furthermore, just as the present invention can modify the frame ratecontrol, the frame resolution can be adjusted in real time based on thedistance and speed of the target. Dynamic resolution control can be setto gain clear imagery or can be set by the user to manage memory storageusage.

Another aspect of the present invention is to adjust the capturing ofstill imagery in accordance with optical restrictions of the device. Aspreviously explained, laser rangefinder equipment consistent with thisinvention can accurately measure the speed of an object, such as avehicle, at a range beyond the cost effective means to legibly capturean image of the license plate and/or vehicle operator. The presentinvention adjusts the time of a still high quality image to identify avehicle and/or operator while maintaining a causal chain of evidencefrom the point at which the violation occurred. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, distance measurement data collectedto determine whether a speed violation has occurred is also used todetermine when the optics of the image capturing device are capable ofproducing a legible picture of the vehicle and/or operator. During theperiod in which a still image cannot adequately be captured or in whichthe resolution of the still image would be inadequate, a continualstream of data from the laser rangefinder is collected regarding thevehicle's speed and distance as well as a motion picture image of thevehicle. Once the distance measuring equipment determines that a stillimage can be captured, the image sensor 220 alters its resolution andcaptures a still image. By doing so, positive identification of thevehicle and operator can be obtained even though at the range at whichthe violation occurred no such image was possible. Such a system enablesa less expensive optical system to be tied to the laser range findingequipment. As long as continuous visual contact can be maintained withthe vehicle, the maximum range of the laser rangefinder can be utilizedto effectively prosecute speed violations.

One embodiment of the present invention minimizes processing time incomputing a target's speed by using a sliding window of data collectionand analysis. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant art,speed determination using a laser rangefinder is accomplished by firinga series of laser pulses and receiving a series of reflected pulses.Each pulse and its reflected counterpart can determine the distance toan object. By knowing the time between the fired pulses and thedifferences in the calculated distance, a speed determination can bemade. Typically a sample size of pulses, a window, is used to make sucha determination. For example a speed determination may be based onchanges in distance over time based on a window of five pulse returns.

Data collected by the laser rangefinder's receiver is often inconsistentfrom one pulse to the next. Even though only a small sample of the totalnumber of pulses may be needed to accurately determine an object'sspeed, there may be a significant latency in identifying pulses that, asa group, meet the selection criteria. Furthermore, current samplingprocesses in laser speed detection devices utilize a process that, whena selected number of pulses fails to meet the required quality orconsistency parameters, that sample is ignored and another, unique setof pulses is analyzed. If multiple samples are rejected before asampling of pulses can be used to determine the speed of the device,that determination can be significantly delayed.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sliding windowis used to determine the speed of an object. Rather than sampling pulsesin a step by step fashion, a window encompassing the required number ofpulses is incrementally moved along the received returns until a set ofqualifying returns is identified to determine the speed of the object.

FIG. 3 shows a graphical depiction of a sliding scale pulse samplingmethod according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3depicts a graphical representation of the quality pulse returns/times ona horizontal axis 310 versus the distance measurement on a vertical axis320. Graphically, a determination of distance (and thus speed) from aspecified number of pulses can be determined when the input line isconsistent, i.e. a straight line. A curved line may indicate that therate of change of the target's distance precludes an accuratedetermination of the target's speed. Therefore a sample centered on acurved portion of the line 330 would be rejected forcing the samplewindow to move to the next set of pulse returns. (see samples 1-3) Whenthe speed of the target is variable as compared to the sample window,the time to gain a consistent sampling of laser pulses so as todetermine the distance can be significant. According to the presentinvention, when a sample is rejected, the sample size is incrementallymoved. As shown in pulse sample 4 on the right side of FIG. 3, aninitial sampling 340 is over a curved portion of the graph indicatingvariances in pulse returns within the sample. By sliding slightly to theright and over less than an entire sampling window, the new workingsample of pulses 360 lies over an essentially linear portion of thegraph indicating that the pulse returns for these particular pulses isconsistent enough to provide an accurate distance determination.

A sliding window sampling scheme can significantly reduce the latencythat occurs from the initiation of the system to when the laserrangefinder 210 and speed determinator module 250 determine an accuratespeed of the target.

Another aspect of the present invention is the ability to wirelesslydownload the integrated data to a central repository for storage and/oranalysis. While the system described herein includes an internal memoryfor storage of data collected during an initiation of the device, aswell as for storage of instructional code to operate the device, it canalso possess the ability to periodically or dynamically download thecollected data to a server via a wired or wireless network interface.Motion imagery is very memory intensive, and, while only the motionimagery necessary to integrate still images with the speed determinationis necessary, the system's versatility is enhanced by the ability todownload the data while in the field giving the user a lengthenedability to collect data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating methods of implementing an exemplaryprocess for integrating motion and still imagery with laser rangefinderspeed determination. In the following description, it will be understoodthat each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may be loadedonto a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a machinesuch that the instructions that execute on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks. These computer programinstructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that candirect a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in aparticular manner such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture includinginstruction means that implement the function specified in the flowchartblock or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loadedonto a computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed in the computer or on the otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process suchthat the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinationsof means for performing the specified functions and combinations ofsteps for performing the specified functions. It will also be understoodthat each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

The integration process begins at step 405 with the initiator system(trigger pull) step 410 of the system. In a typical example, initiationof the system occurs when a user identifies a target of interest anddirects both the laser rangefinder and the image capture device(s)toward the target so as to determine the target's speed whilesimultaneously capturing the target's image.

As shown in FIG. 4, the process of the present invention is bifurcatedas the laser rangefinder portion of the system initially operatesindependently of the image capturing portion of the invention. Uponinitiation, the laser rangefinder determines at step 415 a distance tothe target by detecting reflected laser pulses from the target. Thisdistance data is queued at step 425 in memory and associated with anappropriate time stamp. Thereafter, as distance data is accumulated overa period of time, the speed of the target is calculated 435.

As a distance to the target is determined at step 415 and the data isused to calculate at step 435 the target's speed, motion imagery sensorsare immediately activated to capture motion images at step 420 of thetarget and its environment. As with the distance data, the motionpicture data is queued at step 430 and associated with a time stamp.Using distance information obtained from the laser rangefinder, a queryis made at step 440 whether the target is within a range at which astill image reliably can be captured. When the response to this query isnegative, the method returns to capture motion imagery and queue thetime stamped data.

When the response to the query at step 440 is affirmative, meaning thatthe system believes that, based on the distance determination, areliable still image can be taken that will positively identify thetarget, a still image is captured at step 450 and associated with itsappropriate time stamp. The still image, along with the motion imagery,is again queued at step 460 for future analysis and use.

With motion and still imagery captured at step 460 as well as the speedof the target determined at step 435, the system then integrates thedata at step 470 by matching time stamps. Speeds found to meet apredetermined criteria (for example speeds in excess of a predeterminednumber) are identified along with their time stamps. Imagery, bothmotion and still, associated with those time stamps are integrated atstep 470. According to one embodiment of the present invention, motionimagery before and after the selected time stamp for a predeterminedperiod of time is captured and associated with the integrated speed.When speed meeting the prescribed criteria indicating a violation failsto match with an existing still image, motion imagery linking the speeddetermination to a reliable still image is integrated.

The speed information, the still imagery and the motion imagery arethereafter communicated at step 480 to a user via a display and ornetwork connection. The data forming the integrated report is capturedon persistent memory or transmitted/communicated to a separate storagefacility.

One rendition of an integrated image capturing and speed detectiondevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention isshown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A shows a right rear perspective view ofan integrated image and speed measurement apparatus encompassing onesystem embodiment of the present invention while FIG. 5B shows a rightfront perspective view of the same integrated image and speedmeasurement apparatus.

Referring first to FIG. 5B, one embodiment of an apparatus for housingthe present invention includes a targeting optic or sight 510 affixed toor integrated with the apparatus. By using the sight the user initiallycan direct the image capturing and distance measuring devices at thedesired moving object. The housing shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B alsoincludes a transmitter port 520 for transmitting range finding pulsesused in conjunction with a distance measuring device as well as areceiving port or antenna 530 for reception of reflect energies. In thecase of a laser rangefinder, a series of laser pulses are transmittedfrom the transmitter port 520 toward the moving object. The reflectedcounterparts of these pulses are detected by the receiving port 530after a finite period of elapsed time. The system uses this elapsed timeto determine the distance to the object. As the distance changes over aperiod of time, speed of the object can be determined.

Substantially adjacent and co-aligned with both the targeting optic 510and the transmitting port 520 is an optical lens 540 that is used byboth the video/motion imagery devices and the still image device. Thedistance measuring device and the imagery devices are initiated,according to one embodiment, by a trigger 550.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B also includes a handle 560facilitating the aiming of the device toward the moving object ofinterest and aiding in its portability. Turning to FIG. 5A, a displaydevice 570 can be seen as well as a plurality of user interface controls580 to facilitate the operation of the apparatus.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming anddivision of the modules, managers, functions, systems, engines, layers,features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects are not mandatoryor significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or itsfeatures may have different names, divisions, and/or formats.Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art, the modules, managers, functions, systems, engines,layers, features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects of theinvention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or anycombination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the presentinvention is implemented as software, the component can be implementedas a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as aplurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically ordynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a devicedriver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future tothose of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, thepresent invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specificprogramming language, or for any specific operating system orenvironment.

While there have been described above the principles of the presentinvention in conjunction with integrating speed and distancedetermination with motion and still imagery, it is to be clearlyunderstood that the foregoing description is made only by way of exampleand not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Particularly, itis recognized that the teachings of the foregoing disclosure willsuggest other modifications to those persons skilled in the relevantart. Such modifications may involve other features that are alreadyknown per se and which may be used instead of or in addition to featuresalready described herein. Although claims have been formulated in thisapplication to particular combinations of features, it should beunderstood that the scope of the disclosure herein also includes anynovel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed eitherexplicitly or implicitly or any generalization or modification thereofwhich would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, whetheror not such relates to the same invention as presently claimed in anyclaim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technicalproblems as confronted by the present invention. The Applicant herebyreserves the right to formulate new claims to such features and/orcombinations of such features during the prosecution of the presentapplication or of any further application derived therefrom.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a speed measurement device for determininga speed of a moving object at a first distance; and an image capturemechanism integrated with said speed measurement device for storing asequence of images of said moving object from said first distance to asecond lesser distance, said apparatus associating an instantaneousspeed with at least a subset of said sequence of images and wherein saidmoving object is probabilistically uniquely identifiable in at least oneof said images at said second distance.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said speed measurement device comprises a laser rangefinder. 3.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image capture mechanism comprisesa video camera.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image capturemechanism comprises a discreet image sensor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4further comprising: a display device providing a visual indication ofsaid moving object and said speed.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 furthercomprising: a battery pack for powering said speed measurement device,said image capture mechanism and said display device.
 7. The apparatusof claim 6 further comprising: a handheld housing substantiallyencompassing said speed measurement device, said image capturemechanism, said display device and said battery pack, said housingenabling manual aiming of said apparatus at said moving object.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein said image capture mechanism is activatedupon said moving object exceeding a settable threshold velocity.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein said image capture mechanism is activatedprior to said moving object exceeding a settable threshold velocity. 10.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a vehiculartraffic enforcement device.
 11. A method comprising: determining a speedof a moving object utilizing a laser rangefinder; sampling a pluralityof received laser pulses returned from said moving object over a periodof time; and determining said speed of said moving object utilizing asliding sample window of a set of said received laser pulses.
 12. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising: incrementally moving said slidingsample window along said received laser pulses; and determining saidspeed of said moving object once a qualifying sample of said receivedlaser pulses is identified.